Backed up by a trial court order, the Nueva Vizcaya provincial police dispersed peacefully the protesters who set up human barricade on the road leading to a government-approved mining exploration in Dupax town.

In a report to Judge Paul R. Attolba Jr. of the regional trial court (RTC) based in Bayombong town, the Nueva Viscaya Police Provincial Office (NVPPO) said that seven protesters, led by Florentino Daynos, were arrested for obstructing the lawful implementation of a court order.

Daynos and his group, and a mining firm are parties in the case pending before the Nueva Vizcaya RTC.

It was not known as of posting time if charges, like contempt of court, have been filed by the police against the arrested protesters.

Earlier, Judge Attolba ordered the protesters to demolish the physical barricades put up by protesters. While the physical barricades were dismantled, the protesters set up human barricade along the Keon barangay road that leads to the mining exploration of Woggle Corporation.

The incident led the RTC to issue another order that directed the court sheriff and the police to disperse the human barricade and to arrest the violators of the court order.

Woggle was issued on Aug. 4, 2025 Exploration Permit No. 00030-II by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). It immediately started its mining exploration activities.

Court records showed that protesters led by Daynos and his groups started putting up physical barricades to stop the exploration and later, human barricades.

In a previous order, the RTC had ruled that the protesters should have presented their protests against the mining explorations before the MGB’s Panel of Arbitrators in compliance with Republic Act No. 7942, the Philippine Mining Act of 1995.

NVPPO Director Col. Paul T. Bometivo said the police acted solely in support of the judiciary, following express instructions from the RTC.

“Our actions are anchored entirely on lawful court orders. The PNP did not initiate this enforcement; we merely assisted the court in the execution of its writ,” Bometivo said.

He also said the police operations were conducted with restraint and professionalism. He stressed: “We observed maximum tolerance at all times. There was no use of unnecessary force, and the situation was resolved peacefully.”

He added that “our priority is to maintain public order while fully respecting constitutional rights and human dignity.”

The NVPPO appealed for continued restraint and cooperation as it warned that defiance of court orders exposes violators to further legal and contempt liabilities.